Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester is greeted by Sen. Chris Coons after she was re-elected to her seat in the House of Representatives at the DoubleTree Hotel in Wilmington on Tuesday.(Photo: WILLIAM BRETZGER, The News Journal)Buy Photo

EDITOR'S NOTE: This article has been changed to correctly identify Sussex as having the second highest population of Delaware's three counties.

Democrats in Delaware are still relishing their key wins in the midterm elections. But it remains to be seen how their new dominance will impact people here.

The party that has long controlled state politics rode a wave of discontentment with President Donald Trump and what had been a Republican-controlled Congress by convincing voters here to turn the state a shade of blue that rivals New York and California.

The GOP lost the last two statewide offices it previously controlled. In doing so, it saw incumbent Treasurer Ken Simpler, seen by many as their best hope for capturing the governor's mansion, lose to a virtually unknown political newcomer.

Democrat Colleen Davis and Republican Ken Simpler(Photo: SUBMITTED)

Due to a combination of retirements and election losses, they also lost their two highest ranking members in the state Senate and their second-highest ranking member of the House.

As the dust settles, the leading questions now are: What will Democrats do with their recent mandate? And can Republicans hope to salvage their party here?

How Democrats will use their power

Little changed for Delaware in terms of its representation in Congress. Incumbent U.S. Sen. Tom Carper, who won a fourth term, will return to a Republican-controlled Senate while U.S. Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester perhaps gained a bit more cache as a second-term incumbent in what is now a Democratically controlled U.S. House.

The most immediate impact of Tuesday's election will likely be seen in the Legislature, where Democrats added one seat to both their supermajority in the state House and what had been a single-vote advantage in the Senate.

An equal rights amendment to the state constitution, for instance, is now expected to easily garner the second round of supermajority votes it needs to become law. The bill cleared its first hurdle this year after similar attempts failed in 2016 and 2017.

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House Majority Leader Valerie Longhurst, D-Bear, speaks during a rally for the Delaware equal rights amendment on the steps of Legislative Hall in Dover.(Photo: Jason Minto, The News Journal)

Democrats almost certainly will make an early push for election reforms while the midterms are still fresh in voters' minds.

That could include new restrictions on the kinds of campaign finance activities that caused an uproar in recent weeks in addition to measures that failed this year such as moving up the state primary, permitting same-day registration and adding Delaware to the list of states that allow early voting.

Democrat on Democrat fighting

With Republicans now making up an even smaller minority, the only thing that might stop Democratic lawmakers from exerting their will on most issues is other Democrats.

Fractures were already surfacing last week even before the legislative caucuses selected the future leaders of both chambers. Those same fault lines could be laid bare again if members of the majority push bills that are divisive among members of their own party.

The party saw it's greatest successes here by running on fiscal conservatism while remaining moderate on social issues. That began to change as the national party gave rise to tea party Republicans nearly a decade ago and has only continued under anti-immigrant populism espoused by Trump.

The number of registered Republican voters in New Castle County slipped below those registered as independents this summer before bouncing back just before the midterm.

The party influence is now isolated almost exclusively in Sussex, the state's most southern and second-least populated county.

Lisa Blunt Rochester is greeted at the podium by US Senator Chris Coons after she was reelected to her seat in the House of Representatives at the DoubleTree Hotel in Wilmington Tuesday. WILLIAM BRETZGER, The News Journal

Former state attorney general Charles Oberly watches from the stage as Kathy Jennings celebrates her state attorney general win at the DoubleTree Hotel in Wilmington Tuesday. WILLIAM BRETZGER, The News Journal

Campaign workers get in a last word for their candidates as voters arrive at the polling station at P.S. DuPont Middle School in Wilmington just before 6 p.m. Tuesday. WILLIAM BRETZGER, The News Journal

Voters head to the pools at Cape Henlopen High School near Lewes as turnout in eastern Sussex County has been steady at polling places as candidates still seek supporters for their support. Chuck Snyder/Special to the News Journal

Delaware Governor John Carney greets voters at Cape Henlopen High School near Lewes as turnout in eastern Sussex County has been steady at polling places as candidates still seek supporters for their support. Chuck Snyder/Special to the News Journal

Voters head to the pools at Cape Henlopen High School near Lewes as turnout in eastern Sussex County has been steady at polling places as candidates still seek supporters for their support. Chuck Snyder/Special to the News Journal

Gov. John Carney greets voters at Cape Henlopen High School near Lewes as turnout in eastern Sussex County has been steady at polling places as candidates still seek supporters for their support. Chuck Snyder/Special to the News Journal

State Auditor candidate Kathy McGuiness greets voters at Cape Henlopen High School near Lewes as turnout in eastern Sussex County has been steady at polling places as candidates still seek supporters for their support. Chuck Snyder/Special to the News Journal

Voters have a photo taken with candidates at Cape Henlopen High School near Lewes as turnout in eastern Sussex County has been steady at polling places as candidates still seek supporters for their support. Chuck Snyder/Special to the News Journal

Delaware Governor John Carney greets voters at Cape Henlopen High School near Lewes as turnout in eastern Sussex County has been steady at polling places as candidates still seek supporters for their support. Chuck Snyder/Special to the News Journal

Delaware Governor John Carney with 1st time voters Alex Downs and Chloe Bartholomey from Lewes at Cape Henlopen High School near Lewes as turnout in eastern Sussex County has been steady at polling places as candidates still seek supporters for their support. Chuck Snyder/Special to the News Journal

Delaware Governor John Carney greets voters at Cape Henlopen High School near Lewes as turnout in eastern Sussex County has been steady at polling places as candidates still seek supporters for their support. Chuck Snyder/Special to the News Journal

State Auditor candidate Kathy McGuiness greets voters at Cape Henlopen High School near Lewes as turnout in eastern Sussex County has been steady at polling places as candidates still seek supporters for their support. Chuck Snyder/Special to the News Journal

Voters head to the pools at Cape Henlopen High School near Lewes as turnout in eastern Sussex County has been steady at polling places as candidates still seek supporters for their support. Chuck Snyder/Special to the News Journal

Dave Baker candidate for State Senate greets voters at Cape Henlopen High School near Lewes as turnout in eastern Sussex County has been steady at polling places as candidates still seek supporters for their support.
Special to the News Journal / CHUCK SNYDER Chuck Snyder, Credit Photo/CHUCK SNYDER

U.S. Senator Tom Carper greets voters at Cape Henlopen High School near Lewes as turnout in eastern Sussex County has been steady at polling places as candidates still seek supporters for their support.
Special to the News Journal / CHUCK SNYDER Chuck Snyder, Credit Photo/CHUCK SNYDER

U.S. Senator Tom Carper greets voters at Cape Henlopen High School near Lewes as turnout in eastern Sussex County has been steady at polling places as candidates still seek supporters for their support.
Special to the News Journal / CHUCK SNYDER Chuck Snyder, Credit Photo/CHUCK SNYDER

U.S. Senator Tom Carper greets voters at Cape Henlopen High School near Lewes as turnout in eastern Sussex County has been steady at polling places as candidates still seek supporters for their support.
Special to the News Journal / CHUCK SNYDER Chuck Snyder, Credit Photo/CHUCK SNYDER

Sen. Tom Carper shows his wife Martha his drivers license that he forgot in the car and had to go back to get before he could cast his midterm votes at P.S. duPont Middle School on Tuesday. Jennifer Corbett, The News Journal

U.S Senate Candidate Rob Arlett supporters at the Roxana Fire Station on Election Day. Voter turnout in eastern Sussex County has been steady at polling places in Rehoboth, Roxana and Angola. Chuck Snyder, Special to The News Journal

U.S Senate Candidate Rob Arlett supporters at the Roxana Fire Station on Election Day. Voter turnout in eastern Sussex County has been steady at polling places in Rehoboth, Roxana and Angola. Chuck Snyder, Special to The News Journal